Tag Archives: Christian Devotionals

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Tha Son Always Be Coming Ter Us and Weeping Over Us

Finding Jesus

Tha Son Always Be Coming Ter Us and Weeping Over Us

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it. – Luke 19:41 (Mark 11:1-11)

Near tha end of his life, jest as tha Son and his disciples whar about to enter Jerusalem, he sent two of his disciples ahead, saying ter them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”

“The Lord needs . . . ” what you have. Not jest once in a while but all tha time. Only when ya be giving back ter tha Son what be his—fer he be tha one who owns all things—some people might ask, “What are you doing?” If they do, reply as tha Son ‘as told ya. Now in order ter do this ya ‘ill ‘ave ter stick close ter tha Son, know his words, and allow his Holy Ghost of Truth ter lead ya.

After tha Son mounted tha new colt donkey, folks who went ahead and behind him shouted: “Save!” fer they had seen all tha miracles Skipper’s Son done during his three years of teaching and preaching.

“Save!”: that be tha cry of tha crowds. “Save us from our problems, save us from trouble, save us from pain, sorrow, grief, worry.” Only tha main reason tha Son came whar ter ter save us from our sins. Only them who truly know that lay of thar lives ‘ill cry out,  “Save me from my sins!”

As tha Son came ter his own people he wept over ’em and said, “You do not recognize the time of my Father’s coming to you.” This be tha pain of parents whose children remain lost in darkness. This be tha pain of children whose parents remain lost ter addiction, apathy towards Skipper, and consumed by thar own love fer self.

At tha conclusion of tha matter, tha Pharisees said ter one another, “See how the whole world has gone after him!” Indeed, fer a time tha whole world did seem ter be going after tha Son, but a week later they would demand he be executed. Such be tha fickle faith of folks.

Make it yer task ter give when tha Son asks. Make it yer task ter be prepared ter give an answer ter those who ask ya why ya follow tha Son. Make it yer task ter pray this prayer fer all ya love: “Lord, deal with ______ as severely as necessary ter drive them ter tha feet of that Son, but with as much mercy as possible.”

Tha Son always be coming ter us and weeping over us. Will ya receive his love ter day?

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“What Do You Want Me to Do for You?”

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"What Do You Want Me to Do for You?"

“What do you want me to do for you?”

That be tha question tha Son asks us. Think on this story a wee little bit. One day tha Son and his disciples came ter Jericho. As they be leaving tha city a blind man named Bart asked what be happening. Fellers in tha crowd told him that tha Son be passing by. “

Seeing as how this probably be his last and only chance, Blind Bart called, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

But them in tha crowd rebuked him and told Blind Bart to hush up. Only right then tha Son stopped and called Bart.

At that moment tha fellers went ter Blind Bart and said, “Cheer up! Jesus of Nazareth is calling you!”

Blind Bart jumped ter his feet and came ter tha Son saying, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

Many a day we be like Blind Bart. We be sitting on tha outside, desperate fer healing and help. Ter day make it yer task ter:

  • Watch fer tha Son ter pass by.
  • Be on guard fer those who suppose ter be followers of tha Son ter block yer way, discourage ya, and keep ya from getting ter tha Son.
  • At tha same time listen fer others ter encourage ya by saying things like, “Cheer up! He is calling ya!”
  • Be ready ter present yer pleas ter tha Son.
  • Be prepared ter believe tha Son ‘as answered yer request.
  • Expect instant answers. Might not always be tha case, but some times tha Son ‘ill heal and help right off quick as a flash.

After Blind Bart told tha Son what he wanted, tha Son said, “Go. Your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight. From then on Blind Bart followed tha Son up tha road. When all tha folk seen it, they praised Skipper.

Ter day make it yer task ter watch fer tha Son passing by, fer we ne’er know when tha Son ‘ill call us ter come close and walk with him.

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Ya ‘ill Always ‘ave a Place of Honor in Skipper’s Presence

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Ya 'ill Always 'ave a Place of Honor in Skipper's Presence

In response ter tha Son’s words, “You who leave all to follow me will receive 100 times as much in this age and the age to come,” James and John said to tha Son, “We want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

Be that not like us? In tha name of tha Son we ask him fer a thing and expect him ter grant our wishes. Only when James and John asked fer high positions of honor, tha Son replied, “You do not know what you are asking.”

That also be jest like us. We think tha thing we want be fer our good, only it not always be tha best thing. Ah good many who asked fer sumpin’ find out later it be a curse or worse: a cruel slave master.

Tha Son asked James and John, “Can you be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

“We can!” we ‘ill  often reply. Only think on this a wee little bit: what James and John be asking fer is places of honor, power, and prestige alongside tha Son. But ter get such they would ‘ave ter endure mockery, slander, beatings, imprisonment, beheadings. Most likely when they put tha request ter tha Son, that not be what they had in mind.

“You will be baptized with my baptism, “tha Son told ’em, “but ter sit in places of honor on my left and right is not for me to grant. Those places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

As ya well know, if ya be sailing in a sturdy vessel, then even when gales blow, when waves break over tha bow, when wind tears through tha rigging and shreds sails, all be safe below in the belly of tha ship. Though all above me filled with terror, then held fast in tha hold be at peace. Skipper be our strength, help, and refuge. (Psalm 46:1)  It be hard ter worry and live with doubts when Skipper ‘as his arms wrapped ’round ya tight and hugging ya in his large lap.

Places of honor, power, and prestige might be a thing our flesh seeks, but tha better request be fer Skipper’s peace that passes our understanding.

Seek Skipper above all else and ya i’ll find ya always ‘ave a place of honor in his presence.

 

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The Disciples Whar Astonished, While Others Be Afeared

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The Disciples Whar Astonished, While Others Be Afeared

(Mark 10:32-34)

While on thar way up ter Jerusalem, tha Son led tha way, only as they walked about he found his disciples be astonished at tha things he said ’bout giving up homes, family, friends, and wealth ter follow him. Shocked and stunned they whar. Other folks be a feared at hearing his words.

Ter help the Twelve get tha lay of things, he took them aside and told ’em plainly what was about ter happen ter.

“We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”

Now ya might think that sad news but of no concern ter us all these years later, only think on this a wee little bit: what folks did ter tha Son’s body when he walked tha earth they ‘ill do ter his spiritual body now. Tha Body of tha Son, his church, his bride, ‘ill suffer tha same sort of abuse from violent fellers.

  • When ya be mocked fer yer belief in tha Son, count it as an honor, not as a slight that deserves a harsh come back.
  • When ya be spit at and spit on fer yer faith in tha Son, turn yer cheek away.
  • When ya suffer a beating fer yer love fer tha Son, know that tha Son and Skipper be crying with ya.
  • If fellers kill ya fer yer loyalty ter tha Son know that ya ‘ill rise again in glory with him.

Would that we ne’er go through such hard struggles fer being a part of tha Son’s new body and his bride, but tha Apostle Paul be quick ter remind us that our “light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (2 Corinthians 4:17).

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The Two Will Become One Flesh

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The Two Will Become One Flesh

One day some Pharisees came ter test tha Son. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

Tha Son turned tha question back on them. “What did Moses command you?”

They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”

Tha Son replied, “At the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Now ya may be asking yer self what tha Son meant when he said, for this reason. Fer tha answer ter that question ya have ter go back ter tha beginning.

Skipper said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

But fer Adam thar be no suitable helper among tha animals so Skip caused Adam ter fall in ter a deep sleep. While he be out like a light, Skipper took one of Adam’s ribs and closed up tha place with flesh. Then from Adam’s rib Skip made a person near ’bout exactly like Adam only with a slightly different shape and features.

Right off this might sound a bit far fetched—another person made from a rib—but if ya think on it, a good many stories have odder things in ’em: talking trees, walking fish. Ne’er fer get that Skipper be tha Great Creator. His imagination be beyond anything we kin conceive.

When Adam come awake he said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.”

Skipper seen that what he done be good. He blessed tha pair and said ter ’em, “Be fruitful. Increase in number.” A couple who be in love mostly knows what that means.

Tha Son told them smart fellers, “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law [that a feller could divorce his wife]. But I tell you anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”

The disciples said ter tha Son, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.” Most likely they had in mind tha strife and friction that comes when a couple tries ter make a go of it. Opposites attract fer a reason: on a level most of us kin not see, we know we be lacking in certain areas and tha mate we fall head over toes fer often be strong in them areas. Only blending two halves in ter a holy whole takes near ’bout a lifetime.

Tha Son replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs [unable ter get a mate pregnant] who were born that way [castrated], and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

“For this reason . . .” fer companionship, fer ter be made whole by taking in tha strengths of another, ter produce offspring that fear, revere, love, honor, and obey Skipper we be created to be with one mate fer ’till death divides tha pair. 

Tha Son be right when he says, “Not everyone can accept this word.” His commands might seem a bit restrictive, only think on this a wee little bit: God is good (Mark 10:18), God is great (Psalm 86:10), God is love (1 John 4:16). A good, great, God only gives commands that seem restrictive ’cause he loves us. 

Make it yer task ter trust in his love and love tha one ya marry with all yer heart, patience, mercy, grace, fergiveness, honor, respect, trust, compassion and passion. Do this and ya may find all thoughts of splitting up melt away.

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Will Ya Sit in Tha Lap of Tha Son and Let Him Bless Ya?

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Will Ya Sit in Tha Lap of Tha Son and Let Him Bless Ya?

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. – Mark 10:13 (Mark 10:13-16)

One day some folks brought thar little tots and babes ter Jesus so he could place his hands on ’em, bless ’em, and pray fer ’em. Right off his very own disciples called him up short.

Think on that a wee little bit: tha Son be Skipper’s very own boy, ‘as tha very nature of Skip in him, and tha Son’s disciples think they know better’n him what ter do. Same as us, sometimes. We think we know better’n Skip and tha Son what be tha right course ter sail.

When tha Son seen how his mates reacted he got indignant. Indignant be a fancy word der angry and disgusted.

He said ter them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Like newborn babes who crave thar mum’s milk, so we too ought ter hunger for tha Son’s spiritual milk. If ya been in tha Son and tha Son been in ya fer any time, then ya most likely ‘ave tasted our Lord and know him ter be good in all things (1 Peter 2:2).

“Change and become like little children,” tha Son says ter us. “For whoever humbles himself like a child is the GREATEST in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3-4).”

Tha Son took tha youngins in his arms, placed his hands on ’em, blessed ’em, and prayed over ’em. Will ya let him touch, bless, and pray over ya?

  • Will ya trust him completely?
  • Only depend on him?
  • Be totally sincere with him in yer thoughts, words, and prayers?
  • In frank honesty and openness sit quietly be fer him and listen ter his voice?

If we ‘ill come ter tha Son with tha mind of youngins and believe without any doubts, we ‘ill find that sitting on tha Son’s lap be tha most joyous thing we kin imagine.

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Salt Life

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Salt Life

“Salt is good. Have salt in yourselves.” – Mark 9:50

As any who ever sailed aboard a ship fer any time knows, salt be a good way of keeping bacteria, fermentation, and rot from ruining a good side of beef. Salt doth this by sucking water out of the cells of foods and bacteria. Less water, less chance fer bacteria ter grow and reproduce.

Only think on this a wee little bit: If salt fills up with water from food and bacteria it loses its saltiness. Once salt loses its saltiness, it gets tossed out in tha street and trampled underfoot (Matthew 5:13).

Same with a mutinous crew. Once a spirit of mutiny breaks out among Skip’s crew, it be a right hard thing ter dissuade ’em from throwing off his Code of Conduct and taking over tha vessel, changing course, and shipwrecking thar faith (1 Timothy 1:19).

But if ya have starch in yer spine and Skip’s salt in yer soul ya ‘ave no choice but ter obey tha Son and be salt among tha storehouse of meatheads and fruit loops, and veggie lovers. Ter abandon ship so quick ter a mutinous crew be ter give up without a fight. On tha cross tha Son fought fer ya; we kin do no less than ter fight fer him by being salt among them who ‘ave strayed from his love, commands, grace, and mercy. 

Make it yer task ter live a life of salt among sinners (and we all ‘ave some bacteria . . . ah, sin). Who knows but by salting them around ya with Skip’s Code of Conduct and acts of tha Son ya may help ter starve tha bacteria in some folks, and preserve them in this life and tha life ter come.